Melting-pot for type-casting machines.



No. 559,525. Patented Oct. 9, I900.

A. w. HANIGAN.

MELTING PUT FOB TYPE CASTING MACHINES.

(Application filed Jam. 81, 1900.)

(No Model.)

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/"III,

Y NORRIS PETERS co, wowouruo.,wunmomu u c TATES ilNiTn o ATENT OFFICE.

ADAM W. HANIGAN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 659,525, dated October 9, 1900.

Application filed January 31, 1900. Serial 110.3,467. (No model.) 1

a mold.

The object of my invention is to provide a melting-pot, p1unger-and-valve mechanism, and mechanism for operating said plunger and valve, all so arranged as to provide for forcing the molten metal in a horizontal direction from the lower part of the melting-pot at or below the level of the molten metal, whereby several important advantages are obtained, as will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists in features of construction and in novel combinations of the parts of a metal-casting mechanism more especially adapted for the casting of individual types and type-lines or type-bars, as hereinafter more particularly set forth.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a partsectional vertical elevation of my improved melting-pot and accompanying mechanism for feeding molten metal to a mold. Fig. 2 is a plan of the melting-pot. Fig. 3 is a detail view ot part of the mechanism for operating the plunger in the melting-pot.

The melting-pot (designated by the reference-numeral 1) may have any suitable form in horizontal cross-section, preferably rectangular, or approximately so, as shown. Near the bottom of the melting-pot there is arranged a horizontal partition 2, that serves as a top for a plunger-chamber 3, in which a horizontally-reciprocating plunger at is placed. This plunger 4 is extended across the plunger-chamber 3 from side to side of the melting-pot, or very nearly so, the width of said plunger being designed to correspond with the length of a horizontally-arranged eduction passage or port 5, Fig. 1, that is formed in the front of the melting-pot or in a mouthpiece 6, that may be formed on or secured to the front of the melting-pot, as shown.

In the mouthpiece 6 and extended horizontally across the port or passage 5 there is mounted an oscillatory valve 7, provided with a port 8 for controlling the feed of molten metal through the dischargeorifice 9, which is adapted to communicate with a mold cavity or cavities in any suitable mold 10 for casting individual types, type-bars, or other objects, according to the character of the mold employed. To permit insertion, removal, or replacement of the oscillatory valve 7, there is provided at each end of the mouthpiece 6 a removable plate or cover 11 and 12, Fig. 2. The adjustingscrews 13 and 14, provided with lock-nuts 15 and 16, are arranged in the plates 11 and 12 at opposite ends of the oscillatory valve 7 to facilitate its adjustment and to secure a proper correspondence between the valve and its seat.

To one end of the oscillatory valve 7 there is secured a crank-arm 17, that is connected, by means of a pin 18, Figs. 1 and 2, with one arm of a lever 19, which is fulcrumed at in a bearing 21, provided in one side of the melting-pot near its front. The other arm of the lever 19 is provided with an arc-shaped slot 22, Fig. 1, the rear end portion of which slot 22 is inclined downward toward the back part of the melting-pot. This slot 22 receives one end of a horizontally-arranged pin 23, that is carried in the lower end of an oscillatory two-armed lever 24, which is mounted about midway its length on a shaft 25, that is extended across the upper portion of the melting-pot. Ascrew 26, Fig. 2, may be provided at one end ofthis shaft 25 to hold the same in place. At its other end the pin 23 is engaged in a slot 27, about three-eighths of an inch in length, formed in a forwardly-projecting portion of a link-block 28, which is connected at the rear by means of a pin 29 with the upper portions of two ears 30, Figs. l and 2, which project upwardly from a rear portion of the horizontally-arranged plunger 4 in the bottom of the melting-pot. As shown in Fig. 2, the top or cover 2 of the plunger-chamber 3 is provided with two forwardly and rearwardly extended slots 31 to permit passage of the ears 30in the forward and backward movements of the plunger.

It will be observed that the connection of the oscillatory lever 24 by means of the pin 23 with the valvelever 19 and with the linkblock 28 is such as to provide for the required operation of the plunger 4 and oscillatory valve 7 in feeding molten metal horizontally and directly from the lower part of the melting-pot to the mold. The slots 31 are about one-sixteenth of an inch longer than the plunger 4 from front to rear thereof and are so located as to extend beyond the front edge of said plunger when .the plunger is in a rearward position, and thus the molten metal will readily feed downward through the forward ends of said slots into the plunger-chamber 3 when the plunger is sufficiently retracted. For the purpose of pressing the plunger-cover 2 forward against the front of the melting-potto make a good metal-tightj int, so as not to lose any of the pressure when the casting is taking place, there are provided the adjusting-screws 32 and 33, Fig. 2, which are arranged to bear with any required force against depending portions of said cover on opposite sides of the plunger.

To the upper end of the lever 24 there is pivotally attached, by means of a pin 34, Fig. 1, a link 35, which connects with the upper end of a main actuating-lever 36, which is pivotally supported at its lower end on a fulcrum-pin 37, as shown in Fig. 1. This main actuatingdever 36 carries on one side a block 38, having mounted therein a friction-roller 39, Figs. land 3, on a stud 40, having a locknut 41 at one end. On a rotary shaft 42, Figs. 1 and 3, there is secured, by means of a key 43, a cam-wheel 44, that is so located as to bear against the friction-roller 39 on the greater part of the cam revolution in such manner as to cause the levers 36 and 24 to be oscillated in such direction as to retract the plunger 4 to close the oscillatory valve 7 after a charge of molten metal has been forced into the mold. The cam 44 is provided at a point on its periphery with a recess 45, which will permit the levers 36 and 24 to be moved in an opposite direction by the tension of a spring 46 when the cam 44 is revolved sufficiently to bring said recess 45 opposite the friction-roller 39, Fig. 1. The spring 46 has one end attached to the lever 36 and its other end secured to a standard or bracket 47, so that said spring will be put in tension when the main actuatinglever 36 is swung forward by the operation of the cam 44, and when the pressure of said cam is taken away from the friction-roll 39 by reason of the cam-recess 45 coming opposite said friction-roll then the tension of the spring 46 will act suddenly to retract the main actuating-lever 36 and the connected lever 24in such manner as to quickly open the oscillatory valve 7 and then immediately after cause the plunger 4 to act forcibly in expelling the molten metal horizontally from the bottom of the melting-pot and through the mouth 6 and its said valve into the mold. When the lower end of the lever 24 is thus swung forward and while one end of its pin 23 at the beginning of the lever movement is engaged in a rear portion of the slot 22, the lever 19 will be thereby actuated in such direction as to cause the crank-arm 17 to open the oscillatory valve 7, and until the other end of said pin 23 engages the forward end of the slot 27 in the link-block 23 the plunger 4 will not be actuated. As soon, however, as the valve 7 is opened the pin 23 will engage the forward end of the short slot 27 in the link-block 28, and thereby the plunger 4, under the sudden retraction of the spring 46, acting on the levers 36 and 24, will cause said plunger 4 to be thrown forcibly forward. In this way the molten metal in the bottom of the pot is expelled in a horizontal direction from said pot and through the open valve 7 into the mold. The melting-pot may be mounted in such manner as to be moved to and from the mold or the mold may be movable to and from the melting-pot, as may be preferred; but before the melting-pot and mold are moved apart the plunger 4 will be retracted and the oscillatory valve 7 will be immediately closed by the action of the cam 44 acting against the friction-roller 39 on the main actuating-lever.

With this melting-pot and its arrangement of oscillatory valve 7 and horizontally-reciprocating plunger 4 at the bottom of the pot the feeding is effected in a horizontal direction on the level of the molten metal or at any point below its level. Thus the usual upwardly-cu rved discharge-neck is dispensed with, thereby avoiding objections incident to the use of such an upwardly-arranged discharge passage, which frequently causes greattrouble, especially when the molten metal gets lower and lower in the neck of the pot as the metal is consumed. The manner of feeding, as shown and described, from the bottom of the pot and in a horizontal direction insures the supply of pure metal to the mold with no dross at all. The dimensions of the melting-pot may be less than if the pot was provided with the usual verticallymovable plunger, and it will be obvious that a reduction in the size of the melting-pot reduces the extent of surface to be heated, consequently effecting a considerable saving in gas or other the]. By feeding the molten metal from the pot in the manner described the pot can be successfully worked until it is nearly empty, whereas it is usually necessary to constantly replenish the metal. The reduction in the size of the melting-pot which is made possible by the construction shown permits the pot to be mounted at a higher elevation in the casting-machine, so that the bottom of said pot rather than the upper portion will be opposite the mold, and by thus lifting the pot adjacent parts of the casting machine will not be unnecessarily exposed to the heat. Thus, also, as it is always heated metal that lies against the front portion of the pot or its mouthpiece, there will be no liability of clogging of the outlet-passages due to cooling of the metal therein, and the temperature of the pot will be substantially uniform, which is an important advantage in type'casting machines. The horizontally-reciprocating plunger has no large and heavy body of metal to lift to the casting-point, as the discharge of molten metal is in a horizontal direction and directly to the mold. The plunger 4 exerts a positive and direct force or. the molten metal to be discharged, the mold being directly in front of the lower part of the melting-pot, and the tnetal at the bot tom of the pot is always at the best temperature, so as to be'easy-flowing, and, furthermore, there is no large air-space to be filled up before the metal can gain access to the mold. This arrangement of mechanism for discharging molten metal horizontally and directly from the bottom of the meltingpot into the mold will give a perfect face for the finest kind of castings, whetherindividual types, type-bars, or other objects.

By reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the discharge-port 9 of the mouthpiece 6 is substantially in the same plane with the eduction port or passage 5 frotn the melting-pot and with the mold cavity or cavities. There may, however, be a 'slight dip in the outer portion of the passage in the mouthpiece Where the valve 7 is located; but in all cases the passage from the lower part of the melting-pot to the mold cavity or cavities is substantial ly in a horizontal plane, thereby facilitating the forcing of the molten metal into the mold.

It will be understood that the melting-pot is to be mounted in a suitable frame in any convenient manner that will permit it to be held firmly and in close contact with the mold during the casting operation, so that there will be no tendency of the pot to lift While the plunger is being operated. {my usual or suitable means may be provided for holding the mold and melting-pot tightly together while casting. 6

Although I have shown the melting-pot as provided with an oscillatory valve, I would have it understood that any other suitable valve or gate may be employed, and it will be obvious that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of other parts with out departing from the essential features of my invention.

\Vhat I claim as my invention.is

1. In combination with a mold for casting type, linotypebars or other objects, a melting-pot having an ed uction-port in the bottom ofone side, a mouthpiece communicating with said eduction-port of the melting-pot and provided with a discharge-port in substantially the same horizontal line with said eductionport and with the mold cavity or cavities, a valve in said mouthpiece to control its discharge port, a horizontally reciprocating plunger located in the'bottom of the meltingpot opposite its said port, lever mechanism connecting said valve and plunger, and operating devices for actuating said lever mech-- anism to open the valve and then cause the plunger-to forcibly expel the molten metal in a horizontal plane and directly into the mold, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a mold for casting type, linotype-bars or other objects, a melting pot having an educt-ion-port in the bottom of one side, a mouthpiece in communication with said ed notion-port of the melting-pot and provided with a discharge-port in substantially the same plane with said eduction-portand with the mold cavity or cavities, a valve in said mouthpiece to control its dischargeport, a horizontally-reciprocating plunger in the bottom of the melting-pot opposite its said port, a slotted and horizontally-arranged par provided with forward and rearward extended slots, a mouthpiece in communication with said ed notion-port of the melting-pot and provided with a discharge-port in substantially the same plane with said eduction-port and with the mold cavity or cavities, an oscillatory valve in said mouthpiece to control its discharge-port, a horizontally-reciprocating plunger in the chamber at the bottom of the melting-pot and provided with ears coincident with the slots in the top of the plunger-chamber, lever mechanism connecting the said valve and plunger-ears, and operating devices for actuating said lever mechanism to open and close the valve and cause reciprocation of the plunger in proper time movements to forcibly expel the molten metal horizontally through the opened valve and into the mold, substantially as described.

4. A melting-pot for type-casting machines, or the like, in which said pot is provided at the bottom of its front side with an eductionport, a tnouthpiece communicating with said eduction-port, an oscillatory valve mounted in said mouthpiece, a horizontally-reciproeating plunger in the bottomof the meltingpot, a two-armed lever mounted in the melting-pot and having one arm connected with a crank-arm on said oscillatory valve and its other arm provided with an arc-shaped slot, and lever mechanism connected with the slotted arm of said lever and with the horizontally-reciprocating plunger, to operate said valve and plunger, substantially as described.

5. The combination ofa melting-pot having an eduction-port in the bottom of its front side, a mouthpiece communicating with said eduction-port, an oscillatory valve mounted in said mouthpiece and having a crank-arm on one end, a horizontally-reciprocating plunger in the bottom of the melting-pot, a twoarmed lever mounted in the melting-pot and having one arm connected with the crankarm of the valve and its other arm connected with the arc-shaped slot, a lever having in its lower end a pin engaged in said slot, and a link connected with the plunger and having a slot connected with said pin, substantially as described.

The combination of a melting-pot having an eduction-port in the bottom portion of its front side, a mouthpiece communicating with said eduction port, an oscillatory valve mounted in said mouthpiece .and having a crank-arm on one end, a horizontallyreciprocating plunger located in the bottom of the melting-pot opposite its eduction-port, a linkblock connected with the rear portion of said plunger and provided with a slot, a two-armed lever having one arm connected with the crankarm of the oscillatory valve and its other arm provided with an arc-shaped slot having a short rearwardly-inclined portion, and a lever having at its lower end a pin en gaged in said arc-shaped slot and in the slot of the link that connects with the plunger, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a substantiallyrectangular melting-pot havinga horizontallyextended eduction-port in the bottom portion of its front side, a mouthpiece communicating with said eduction-port, an oscillatory valve mounted in said mouthpiece and having a crank-arm on one end, a horizontallyreciprocating plunger located in the bottom of said melting-pot and extended across the same, a cover for said plunger constituting the top of the plunger-chamber and provided with forwardly and rearwardly extended slots, ears on the rear portion of said plunger coincident with said slots, a link-block pivotally connected With said ears and provided with a slot, a two-armed lever having one arm connected with the crank-arm of the oscillatory valve and its other arm provided with an areshaped slot having its rear end inclined downwardly, and a lever provided at its lower end with a transversely-arranged pin to engage in said arc-shaped slot and in the slot of the link-block that connects with the plunger, substantially as described.

8. The combination of amelting-pot having melting-pot, an oscillatory valve mounted in said mouthpiece, a two-armed lever having one arm connected with the crank-arm of the oscillatory valve and its other arm provided with an arc-shaped slot having its rear end inclined downwardly, and a. lever having its lower end provided with a pin engagedat one end in said arc-shaped slot and at its other end in the slot of the link-block, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a mold, a meltingpot having an eduction-port in the bottom of one side,a mouthpiece in communication with said ed notion-port and provided with a discharge-port substantially in the same plane with said eduction-port and with the mold cavity or cavities, a valve to control said discharge-port, a horizontally-reciprocating plungerlocated in the bottom of the meltingpot opposite its eduction-port, lever mechanism connecting said valve and plunger, a main actuating-lever, a cam to move said 'main lever in one direction, and a spring to move said lever in the opposite direction, substantially as described.

10. The combination with a mold, of a melting-pot having an eduction-port in the bottom of one side opposite said mold, a month-' piece communicating with said eduction-port of the melting-pot and provided with a discharge-port in substantially the same horizontal plane with said eduction-port and with the mold cavity or cavities,.a valve in said mouthpiece to control its discharge-port, a horizontally-reciprocating plunger located in the bottom of the melting-pot opposite its said port, a horizontally-arranged partition in the bottom of the melting-pot above said plunger to constitute acover for the plunger, and lever mechanism for actuating said valve and plunger, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ADAM W. HANIGAN. Witnesses:

J OHN O. SCUDDER, H. H. CONNOR. 

